I used to be able to 'honk' it without even going to the smaller ring on a 50/34

But then I had a little tumble and now I don't have the leg strength yet, even though it's coming back - and I really didn't want to risk 'stalling' and taking a fall while I still have all the pins and screws in my wonky leg

The only mitigation is that it was about kms 65 into a ride and 43 degrees C.

Can I still play here, or should I pick up my towel of shame and leave?

Iím not ashamed to say, that if I had a dollar for every hill I have walked a bike up; I could probably buy a new bike. (exaggeration) With my replaced hip and knackered knees Iím trying a different strategy this season, my lowest gears are a 28 front, and 30 rear. If I can spin fast enough to stay upright, I should be able to climb a cliff.

I used to be able to 'honk' it without even going to the smaller ring on a 50/34

But then I had a little tumble and now I don't have the leg strength yet, even though it's coming back - and I really didn't want to risk 'stalling' and taking a fall while I still have all the pins and screws in my wonky leg

The only mitigation is that it was about kms 65 into a ride and 43 degrees C.

Can I still play here, or should I pick up my towel of shame and leave?

Wob, In my opinion, any singular item bolded above would have been a plausible reason to walk your bike up the hill! Carry on!

It happens to all of us. I was in a race last year that had a killer hill that also had some loose gravel on it. My back wheel slipped and I stepped out of the pedal to keep from falling and ended up walking the bike up to a step so I could clip back in. I'm sure there was a lot of loose sand/gravel on your hill.

43 C is reason enough to avoid any exertion.
"Only mad dogs and Englishmen venture out in the noon-day sun"

That was about 8 am. The ride started 6.15 am!

Steepness - the hill in question is a two-stepper, up to an old fort, highest look out point for miles around. The first 250 yards or so is REALLY steep - I'd compare it to some of the 1 in 6 hills I used to tackle way back as a Yorkshire schoolkid racer. The middle bit, maybe another 250 yards, is pretty level, before a less steep but still demanding last 250 or so.

I used to have the leg strength to gain and maintain enough momentum to just about honk up the first bit!

Towel of shame? Anyone who has read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy would cringe at the notion of a towel ever being anything but the most useful item one can carry with them. Given your recovery, I'd say you did fine. It can be discouraging to experience the longer, and often more difficult, recovery that comes with age. But your still out there riding! As difficult as it might be for most of us, it is inevitable. There will come a time when we can't do what we used to do. The real question is, are we doing what we can do? I'd say you certainly are.

I surely hope they let you stay or I may have to leave too!! On my "Food Run", with my utility trailer and week of food and stuff in it, there's a single hill, but it's "super steep" on the 2nd. half!! I'm riding a converted MTB with a 22-32 combo and so far I can't make it past 3/4 the way up, without "walking" so I'd have to join you!

There is no shame in walking a hill. I've never done it myself, but I'm sure it's OK.

Just fooling. There are hills on a local MTB trail that I have never made it up and possibly never will. I walked up a good portion of Brasstown Bald the first time I rode it (but I came back the next year and rode it all the way). I'm sure you'll be back to conquer that baby when you heal.